Town Square

More than 400 guns collected at county buyback event

Original post made
on Aug 9, 2013

Contra Costa County's recently gun buyback yielded over 400 guns from three locations throughout the county. The firearms were a "mixture of pistols, rifles and shotguns." Two assault weapons were collected at the Antioch collection point, where he was working.

Ah, yes, Julia Pardini, from lovely Alamo, the (former) hometown of Thomas Bennett, the NRA supporter who took his "self-protection" gun into Oscar Herrera's Alamo jewelry store, with the result that both men got shot and almost killed, with Bennett ultimately changing his address from Alamo to the California Department of Corrections.

Bennett, another law-abiding local gun owner (at least until he pulled the trigger) was one of Julia's 30%. One of the "good guys with guns" who were going to protect us from the "bad guys with guns."

You may think I am a fool, but there may be a day you wish had more to defend you family with other than your big mouth.

Go NRA all the way...

Love my critics....you keep things exciting..

Thanks again....Julia Pardini from beautiful Alamo.

PS...By the way Huh (and I should know you are from Crazy Danville). I have no plans to protect you or your family from the bad guy's...i protect my family. You and Sensible can deal with the bad guy's by opening and closing your mouth... the bad guy's love you naive people.

Posted by Conservator
a resident of Danville
on Aug 12, 2013 at 7:16 pm

Julia,

It is wonderful that you have been allowed access to the Internet at hours much later then you seem to typically post. So as to get the most extreme (or darn near) of perspectives, we all have usually had to wait till they turned on the computers after the breakfast hour. This is a 'pleasant' surprise.

Posted by Concerned Citizen
a resident of Danville
on Aug 13, 2013 at 8:23 am

I agree completely with Julia from Alamo. The criminals are the ones with the guns. Just think... Has anyone attached a police station? Why not? Is it because EVERYONE in there has a GUN?!

You can guarantee that having guns make people safer and more polite. With all of these vehicle stop and arrests in Danville by the police force, do you really want to be the only one without an arm of defense? Guns are the great equalizer. I may be a small woman, but with a .45 in my purse, I'm not afraid of getting robbed or hurt. And I certainly won't be waiting for a cop to show up if my life is at stake.

Do take the law into your own hands! Their our laws! I'm not going to be the one to bring a knife to a gun fight. Plus, with the politicians taking my rights and my guns (and ammo) they can continue to make these crazy laws without fear of recourse. Armed citizens are the right way to ensure our politicians make the correct choice on laws. The one below should result in a mass exodus of our "elected representatives."

I don't want to end up like Syria with the government mowing down our citizens. Without weapons of defense, we will become further enslaved by our government. Stop giving up your rights! Keep your guns!

The hypocrisy of the government continues. Turn in your guns, but we'll spend your tax money on bullets and arm our cops with automatic weapons. The Social Security department really needs to build up their ammo arsenal.

It's hard to tell if "Concerned Citizen" is an actual 14 year old or merely a person with an adult body and the thought processes of an adolescent.

"You can guarantee that having guns make people safer and more polite." Uh, no. You can guarantee that having guns won't change people one bit, except to make it easier for them to do a lot of damage with very little effort. That's what guns do - they make it easier to maim and kill. To maim and kill yourself, your family members, foreign students lost on Halloween, teenagers goofing off, pretty much anyone at all.

Sadly, the people with the most confidence in their own ability to make only correct decisions with guns seem to be the arrested development types like "Concerned Citizen" - posers and wannabe heroes bordering on deranged lunatics with the ability to convince themselves that Danville - that hotbed of civil rest - is a "dangerous place.".

Secondly (and to the point): Nobody, but NOBODY, is trying to take away all your guns! But there are those of us who believe that with gun ownership comes gun responsibilities: How to safely handle a gun. How to safely store that gun in the house. How to safely sell a gun to someone who is legally able to buy one, and who in turn, has proved that he or she knows how to 'handle' that gun. There are those of us who think that military-style weapons do not belong in civilian life. There are those of us who want magazine loads limited ~ it will not stop the deaths, but it might limit the carnage. There are those of us who think that these are reasonable standards for gun ownership, and these changes in no way take away your Second Amendments rights!
There are those on the opposite who want zero changes (I presume like you and Julia) with ANY policy toward gun ownership. This to me (after the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook), is totally ludicrous. I'm a gun owner, I'm an outdoorsman. I take my responsibilities seriously, I wish you and our (gut-less) politicians would do the same!

Posted by Concerned Citizen
a resident of Danville
on Aug 14, 2013 at 8:59 am

I wrote a very knowledgeable comment backed up with credible links to support my arguments. Both Huh? and Danville Independent immediately attack me as an individual. That only negates your arguments and shows how profoundly silly and bias your comments are while completely lacking any and all credibility. You claim to be well-read Danville Independent, but you obviously didn't READ my comments or you could have responded based on the merits of my arguments and not on a simple misspelling. As a human, I do make mistakes. I'm glad you feel so full of yourself you wanted to point that out. Congratulations.

Now, let's get back to the real argument here.

My point is really SIMPLE. Keep your guns. Politicians will continue to take them. They are violating our rights more and more - all in the name of terrorism. At this point, though, our government/politicians are the terrorists. They spy on us, steal from us, lie to us, and claim to be doing it for our own good. You must be a fool to believe them.

Unfortunately, this has been going on for a very long time and it's only getting worse. I'm just so tired of being treated like a bad guy! I'm not! I'm probably the nicest, most honest person you're ever going to meet. I vote for people - not politics. I vote for people - not guns. And I believe in setting a positive example in life and love for others to follow.

We have every RIGHT to own a GUN. Guns level the playing field. If I was a big man, I could fight off an offender but I'm not. Plus, what are you going to do when the FBI/CIA/IRS come knocking on YOUR door saying you haven't paid enough taxes and want to audit you until you change your party affiliation? Probably going to wish you hadn't given your guns away... they certainly won't let you purchase new ones... Gun stores are closing all over California.

We have the RIGHT to own guns (and ammo), but why is the Social Security department buy hollow point bullets? Why are drones being permitted in U.S. airspace to monitor citizens? Just look around. How is flying at the airport? Have you had your strip search today?!

Unfortunately, crime is going up and will continue to go up not only because the government is stealing from us, but bankrupting us as a nation at the same time. The corruption in the police force will also continue to rise with the corruption of our politicians. Cops enforce the laws our politicians make. What recourse do we have for their bad decisions? The second amendment was put in place to protect our rights as American citizens to rise up against our corrupt government when things got out of control. History also tends to repeat itself...

The last piece of this puzzle is how we got here. I think the answer is quite sad, but simple. Our teachers. Danville Independent is a good example of how our teachers are also part of the government - and a part of the problem. As such, they lie to our innocent children until they're ready to give up their rights too by lying to them and saying guns are bad and cops are good. Schools are no different than prisons and I don't want my child to become a "ward of the state." The last thing I want my child to do is CONFORM.

I'm sure I'll get haters saying how wonderful SRVUSD is, but it's brought to you by the government. We're being held hostage by the teachers, handcuffed by their pensions, to pay for subpar education at best while they brainwash our lifeblood and fill their heads with lies. Before you judge me, just think about what your child has "learned" from their "teacher" and take away the teacher's title. Now, you have Joe Blow who goes home at the end of the day to feed his cat and watch reality TV. Are these the people you want teaching your children when you can't because you have to work to pay the bills and taxes? Just think...

I will educate my children in truth and facts and not in social agendas. I will continue to set a prestigious example for my children so that they can help others and bring about a positive influence into the lives of others. I teach love, respect, and education, but I'm not giving up my guns. God bless!

CC & Julia: I'm sure you sound very sensible to each other. To normal, rational people, however, you present a clear picture of paranoid lunatics. And you are the kind of people who espouse the benefit of having folks like you possess tools designed to maim and kill people - precisely because you think that you are suitable candidates for enhancing your ability to do that.

The fact that you are able to convince yourself that (a) the government is out to get you and (b) you have the ability to prevent that from happening with your trusty .45 is pretty much all anyone needs to know about your mental and emotional maturity. The government doesn't just have drones and bullets - it's got nuclear weapons. If you really believe that the FBI/CIA/IRS is coming after you in their black helicopters your .45 wouldn't stop that from happening. Even in your fevered vision of reality you should be able to figure that out. But even that basis analysis escapes you.

And, of course, you folks think that you should have guns, to facilitate your ability to perform whatever acts you think are necessary and appropriate in your world view.

Wow - somehow the need to bear arms is a outcome of our schooling system. My consolation is the gun nuts are in the minority and no amount of kicking, screaming and painting end of world scenarios is going to change the increasing disgust with the prevelance of arms in our society.

NO, one does not need guns to make a point against big government, taxes, etc. Go to the ballot, vote and let democracy decide.

Its sad that CC & Julia live in so much fear and negativity. Expand your horizon, venture out a bit, make friends, it can only help.

Posted by C. R. Mudgeon
a resident of Danville
on Aug 14, 2013 at 4:17 pm

I have no problem with gun buyback programs that are financed by donations, and run by volunteers. I DO have a problem with using county (taxpayer) resources, including both the time of the county employees (and/or police/sheriff's department) involved in holding the event, as well as the cash outlays for the guns.

My objection is primarily based on the fact that there is zero reason to believe that these programs reduce crime in any way. And there is even the possibility that they encourage crime, by providing a way to obtain cash for stolen weapons (via the "no questions asked" policy).

People (even criminals) aren't fools. Guns are being turned in only when, or if, the cash payment is greater than the value of the gun to the "owner". Some honest citizens may no doubt turn in guns that have just been gathering dust around the house. But in the case of criminals, the only reason for them to turn in a gun is if the cash payment is greater than whatever it cost them to get the gun in the first place. If the gun was stolen, then it is pure, risk-free profit. If they bought a cheap gun on the street (quite likely stolen), then the buyback amount may just be helping finance a better gun.....

It's nice that this program exists, so that some folks can "feel good" about "being part of the solution", or whatever. But it you think this is reducing crime in any way, you're dreaming....

Now, is it possible that when honest people turn in guns, that it lessens the chance of their guns being stolen at some point in the future? Or that it lessens the chance of a gun accident at home? Possibly. But if those are the objectives, it would be far more effective to use the funds for gun safety training, and possibly discount vouchers for gun safes, trigger locks, etc. But this doesn't make sense to those who believe that gun ownership itself is the problem....

Curmudgeon-
You ask "Now, is it possible that when honest people turn in guns, that it lessens the chance of their guns being stolen at some point in the future? Possibly."
Let me correct your answer. It should be "definitely". There is no controversy among those of us who prefer facts to delusion.

There are only two ways any gun owner can store their weapon - and this applies whether they are the best trained law abiding citizen or the head of the Zetas Cartel - and that is either in a place they can get to it readily, and fire it easily should the need occur. Or, they will use things like gun safes, trigger locks, and the aforethought to stow their ammo somewhere away from the guns.
The first group, those who we'll refer to as "mentally deficient", are in a fantastic position to ensure another gun will get on the streets. And the latter, who I'll call the "pointlessly cautious", won't be able to use their guns on short notice should someone break into their homes.
Which group is it exactly that you consider yourself part of?

CR, Julia, and Concerned Citizen, aren't just wrong. They are demonstrably wrong in their conclusion. Because the tropical island of Australia has already done the homework for us with regard to turn-in programs for firearms. The fact that the three of you are correct regarding the participants in the buyback program being almost entirely law abiding people doesn't change this. It is a simple numbers game, and it's about undoing the deadly harm that Wayne LaPierre and his ilk have caused our society.
For every hundred law abiding gun owners out there, over a decade at least a few, likely eight or ten, will have their home burglarized. And that's here in the 680 corridor, not Hayward. Of those, in at least a couple or cases, the burglar will discover the gun which has been conveniently stowed in the nightstand.
Even if 1% of guns turned in stay off the street, that still helps. The child that gun kills could be your own.
That you, C.R., could possibly ask if eliminating a gun at home lessens the chance of a deadly accident, and answering your own question with the word "possibly" once again proves the breathtaking scope of your ignorance.
It's not about you and I having a difference of opinion, or Julia being off her med's yet again. It is about facts.
p.s.- don't worry folks - climate change is just a myth!!

Posted by Citizen Paine
a resident of Danville
on Aug 15, 2013 at 10:47 am

I'd like to second, or third, the concerns expressed by CRM and Derek regarding the too narrow justification of these programs as countering "crime" -- likely defined as a stick-up, assault or home invasion.

One of the primary reasons for seeking to reduce the sheer, astounding numbers of guns of all types in this culture is to cut down on accidents, suicides and mistakes. The 'John Wayne' in folks who harbor guns for personal protection is absurd, and much more likely to cause unintended mayhem than to render you some sort of hero. Fact is that few owners know how or bother to properly use or store them -- they are a menace to have around (the guns I mean, mostly).

If I'm right (and I am) then there are two policies served and therefore reasons for both governments and private groups to underwrite these programs. There are no global solutions, here, but every little increment helps reduce the carnage.

Posted by Proud Gun Owner
a resident of Danville
on Aug 15, 2013 at 12:51 pm

To quote the singer Josh Thompson:
"Our houses are protected by the good Lord and a gun
And you might meet 'em both if you show up here not welcome son..."

Enough said.

I happened to sit on jury last year and listened to first hand accounts from undercover ATF agents talk about how easy it is for criminals to buy and sell guns out of the trunks of their cars in your neighborhood fast food parking lot. These are not the people showing up to turn in their guns.

Too many naive people out there reading "parts" of the story and spouting off as if they are educated on the topic....typical.

Posted by Citizen Paine
a resident of Danville
on Aug 18, 2013 at 6:40 pm

PGO: YOU are the John Wayne I was referencing in my earlier comment.

In your bravado and false sense of security (and leaving aside that you don't show much Faith in the protective capabilities of the lord), you are much more likely to pick-off a late-returning loved-one, teen prankster or the family pet than you are any actual intruder.

It's a very high price we all pay for your puffed-up chest -- and, you know, that other problem we won't mention in this fine family publication.